Rat Naa Sen Yai

Wide Noodles in Thick Gravy
(Rat Naa Sen Yai)
ราดหน้า หมี่กรอบ

One of the first Thai meals I really enjoyed when I came to Thailand was this one – rat naa. It not only tasted good but the name was memorable too. I remember writing home and telling people that I had eaten a Thai dish made from rat (I was young back then). Anyway, this meal is basically noodles served with a thick gravy containing kale (Chinese broccoli) and pork. However, I once had a version with seafood. The type of noodles is up to you. In the picture above you can see that I chose sen yai (the wide noodles). But, I sometimes have mee grob (deep fried noodles) with this dish to make a change.

The recipe for rat naa varies a lot so some people, like myself, will cross town just to find the perfect version. The recipe for rat naa that I want to share with you today is for food shops. The ingredients here are enough for 40 plates.

The main ingredients are:

เส้นก๋วยเตี๋ยวเส้นใหญ่ – wide noodles ( 2 kilograms)

เนื้อหมูสันในหั่นชิ้นพอคำ – sliced pork fillet (1.5 kilograms)

ผักคะน้าหั่น – sliced kale (1 kilogram)

กระเทียมสับละเอียด – chopped garlic (quarter of a cup)

พริกไทยป่น – ground pepper (1 tablespoon)

แป้งข้าวโพด – corn flour (6 tablespoons)

เต้าเจี้ยวดำ – fermented soybeans (quarter of a cup)

น้ำตาลทราย – sugar cane (quarter of a cup)

ซีอิ๊วขาว – light soy sauce (three quarters of a cup)

ซีอิ๊วดำ – dark soy sauce (quarter of a cup)

น้ำปลา – fish sauce (three quarters of a cup)

น้ำซุป – stock (half a cup)

น้ำมัน – oil (one and a half cups)

น้ำส้มพริกดอง – chili sauce in vinegar

Mix the pork with the light soy sauce, ground pepper and one tablespoon of sugar cane. Leave to marinate for one hour. Mix together the noodles and dark soy sauce. Add one tablespoon of oil to a wok. Once it is hot, add the noodles and fry until it is ready. Take out and place on a plate. Add the remainder of the oil to the wok. When it is hot, add the garlic and fry until it is fragant. Add the fermented soybeans and stir as you fry. Add the sliced pork and fry for a little longer. Then add the kale and stock. Season with sugar cane and fish sauce and give it a good stir. When it is boiling, add the corn flour which has been mixed with water. When it is ready, serve.